Page 8 of Prudence (Balfe Family #1)

“All right, sleep tight, sweetheart,” he went on as I hurried up the stairs, glad to get to my room before either of my parents saw my drenched clothing and began asking questions.

As I stripped out of my ruined outfit, I found myself ruminating on the awful way the night had ended.

How Francesca had laughed at me, her expression pleased like I’d gotten exactly what I’d deserved.

Tears pricked at my eyes, one spilling down my cheek.

Why did some people have to be so cruel?

I’d never been cut out for that scene, the one Derek occupied, full of sporty lads and pretty, confident girls.

I didn’t fit in with his world despite wishing for it.

Once I’d changed into some clean, dry clothes, I fell into bed and drifted to sleep from sheer emotional exhaustion. The following morning, I was woken by my little sister nudging impatiently at my shoulder.

“Milly! Derek Balfe is here again,” Jane proclaimed with excitement, and I practically shot up out of bed. I hadn’t set an alarm, and I’d completely overslept. “I spied him through the window. He’s waiting outside, and he brought two other boys with him,” she went on.

In a panic, I hurried to throw on a jumper and brush my hair and teeth before I ran downstairs to answer the door.

Derek stood there, a shamefaced-looking Tristan and Rhys standing down by the gate.

He held the promised box of doughnuts in his hands, while Jane went up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear.

“Aunt Nell took Mam and Dad out for brunch, so they won’t be back for a while.

” Relief set in that my parents were out, and I wouldn’t have to endure my dad glowering suspiciously at Derek for a second time.

“Um, hi,” I said, tugging at the end of my jumper and hoping there wasn’t any sleep crusted in the corners of my eyes. I suspected they were still a little red from the crying I’d done last night.

He took me in with a warm, tender smile. “Did I wake you?”

“Kind of, yeah.”

His smile turned apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

I flushed. “It’s fine.”

Derek reached out as though to touch me, and my breath caught when he tucked some hair behind my ear, just like he’d done last night. He exhaled heavily, taking me in for a long moment before he motioned his brother and best friend forward. “These two have something to say to you.”

“We’re very sorry for what happened last night,” Tristan said, while Rhys added, “It was a stupid thing to do. We never meant it for you.”

“Well, thank you for apologising,” I said, touched they’d come all the way over to my house just to say sorry, though I suspected Derek had ordered them both to do it, and they had little choice in the matter. He had a bossy streak and was obviously the one they all looked up to in the group.

“They’re going to do some yard work out here to make up for it,” Derek went on, and my eyes widened in surprise. “Since your dad is still unwell, we thought he might appreciate a little help.”

“Oh,” I glanced from Tristan to Rhys. “You guys really don’t have to—”

“They’re doing it. They deserve the punishment. It’ll make them think twice before attempting something so idiotic in future,” Derek cut me off, his tone brooking no argument. I watched as he motioned for Tristan and Rhys to get to work before he lifted the box of doughnuts.

“While they’re doing that, I thought we could share breakfast?”

“Oh, yes, please come in,” I said, stepping back and leading him into the kitchen.

I could still detect Jane hovering nearby when Derek said, a smile in his voice, “I brought enough for your sisters, too.” Just like that, Jane came forward, and Derek opened the box that contained a dozen doughnuts with an array of toppings.

She selected a Boston Crème just as I heard Donna’s bedroom door opening and her feet shuffling down the stairs.

She appeared in the doorway, her brown hair scruffy and uncombed, a rumpled T-shirt on and her eyes bleary in a way that told me she’d been up until the early hours playing the computer game she was addicted to.

“Are those doughnuts?” she asked, a thread of hope in her voice, and I had to hold in a chuckle. Donna was a sugar fiend and had a sixth sense for when dessert food entered the house. It called out to her like a homing beacon.

“Yeah, have one,” Derek encouraged. “I’m Derek, by the way. Your sister’s friend.”

“I know who you are,” Donna responded, unimpressed. She’d always been that way. My sister was in her own world most of the time and completely disinterested in the teenage hierarchy of our town. She preferred her gamer friends on the internet who lived in various locations around the world.

I sent Derek an apologetic look on behalf of my sister, but he only returned it with an easy-going grin.

Donna took two doughnuts and retreated to her room, leaving me alone with Derek.

Well, aside from Jane, who was in the living room likely listening to every word we exchanged with untold giddiness.

“So,” I began, clasping my hands together and suddenly feeling self-conscious under Derek’s keen attention. “Want some coffee to go with the doughnuts?”

“Sure,” he replied, and I busied myself with the coffee pot.

A silence fell between us for a minute before I commented, “Your brother seems to really feel about bad last night.”

“And so he should.” Derek dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. “Tristan can be a bit of an ‘act first, think later’ person at times.”

“Right, he seems like a nice boy, though. You shouldn’t be too hard on him.

He clearly looks up to you.” I set the coffee on the table alongside two mugs, and Derek took the liberty of pouring it while I decided between a classic glazed doughnut and one with some kind of strawberry-flavoured frosting.

In the end, I decided to indulge myself when I selected the strawberry one.

Derek watched as I took a bite, his gaze turning a little distracted when I licked away some frosting from the corner of my mouth.

“I don’t enjoy having to be tough with Tristan,” Derek replied at last, dragging his gaze away from my lips. “I’ve just always felt this responsibility to set a good example for him. I mean, with Nuala, I don’t have to worry as much, aside from when sleazy lads try to come onto her.”

“She’s a pretty girl. She’s going to get attention from boys. It’s inevitable,” I pointed out.

“Right, but she’s such an open-hearted person. I don’t want her getting taken advantage of by some prick who’s only interested in sex.”

“Understandable.”

“With Tristan, it’s a little different.” He sighed.

I sipped some coffee. “Oh?”

“He’s the type of lad who says yes to everything, you know? Zero thought about the consequences. Sometimes I worry he’s going to say yes to the wrong thing and mess his life up.”

“Like what? Drugs?”

“More like diving off the Lion’s Head on a dare and breaking his neck. Or chugging an entire bottle of vodka to impress a group of girls and giving himself alcohol poisoning. He can be a bit of an adrenaline junkie.”

“Well, from what I’ve heard of your brother, that is true, but he also seems to want your approval. I think that might trump any instincts to take on risky pursuits.”

Derek blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “It doesn’t feel that way. It feels like I constantly have to monitor him in case he makes a bad decision.”

On instinct, I reached across the table and placed my hand on his. Derek glanced up. “You’re not his father. It’s not your job to protect him from everything that might possibly go wrong, and you shouldn’t put that burden on yourself.”

He cast me an assessing glance. “What about you? Don’t you feel responsible for Jane and Donna?”

“Well, yes, but I need to be reasonable about it. I can’t be there to keep them safe every second of every day.”

“I guess you’re right.”

I cast him a smile and squeezed his hand. “You’re a worrier deep down, aren’t you?”

His expression was suffering. “I wish I wasn’t, but yes, I do worry a lot. Me and Tristan are opposites in that sense.”

I nodded, and we ate in quiet for another minute or two before Derek started taking me in again. “So, how are you this morning? Be honest.”

Something in his probing gaze had me feeling flushed. “I’m okay.”

“You sure? Because I really hate how last night ended.” He paused to run a hand over his jaw as he cast me a grimace. “I’d been wanting to take you out for so long, and it was an unmitigated disaster.” Another pause as he continued to hold my gaze. “I hope you’ll give me another shot?”

“Another shot?”

“To take you out again.”

Something in the way he said it had me flushing deeper.

“I guess we could try again,” I replied quietly, and his expression morphed into one of relief.

It was still baffling how interested he was in me.

If Derek Balfe wanted a girlfriend, he could have one in a heartbeat, so why did he seem to be so drawn to me in particular?

We sat talking, and like always with him, I lost track of time. Before I knew it, over an hour had passed, and I heard the front door open. My parents’ voices filtered into the house.

“Milly!” Dad called out. “Why are there two teenage boys out front working in our garden?”

Derek and I both stood from the table just as my parents and Aunt Nell walked into the kitchen.

“That’s my little brother and my friend, Rhys, sir,” Derek explained.

“They’re setting up a gardening service for the summer and are offering a free trial.

” I was impressed by his ability to think on his feet.

I was also glad he’d chosen to lie since I definitely didn’t want to explain to my parents and aunt the real reason the two boys were labouring for free.

“Oh? Well, in that case, I’ll be happy to pay them next time if they do a good job,” Dad said, looking pleased.